After The End

Author: Clare Mackintosh
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Type: Hardcover
Pages: 400
Source: Publisher
Publisher: G.P Putnam's Sons
First Published: June 25, 2019
Opening Lines: "Dylan was six hours old when I noticed a mark behind his left ear the size of a thumbprint."

Book Description from GoodReads: Max and Pip are the strongest couple you know. They're best friends, lovers—unshakable. But then their son gets sick and the doctors put the question of his survival into their hands. For the first time, Max and Pip can't agree. They each want a different future for their son.

What if they could have both?

A gripping and propulsive exploration of love, marriage, parenthood, and the road not taken, After the End brings one unforgettable family from unimaginable loss to a surprising, satisfying, and redemptive ending and the life they are fated to find. With the emotional power of Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper, Mackintosh helps us to see that sometimes the end is just another beginning.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

My Review: Clare Mackintosh is known for her twisty, suspenseful reads but with After The End she has opted to write an emotional, thought-provoking story that hits close to home for the author who experienced a similar tragedy in her own family. Told in alternating points of view of parents Max and Pip (and a bit from doctor Leila), this is the story of a couple who is at odds with how to proceed with their terminally ill toddler's medical care. 

While the story is about a sick little boy, ultimately, the story centres around the marriage of Pip and Max. While their struggles and the fractures in their relationship are hard to witness, their complicated relationship as well as their love for their son and each other, felt authentic. This will be a controversial story for many, with lots of great discussion points (and a strong Picoult-ish feel) but for me, I was always firmly in one camp. 

I have mixed emotions about this book. It started out strong - tensions and emotions are high and I was sympathetic to Pip and Max's struggles - but the format of the second half, while an interesting and gutsy choice, didn't work for me. There are two timelines following the different scenarios based on Pip and Max's differing decisions on how Dylan's medical treatment should be handled. This is where things got repetitive and convoluted because there's a lot of bouncing back and forth from mom to dad, to different years and 'what ifs'.

I applaud the author for taking on such a personally devastating subject matter as well as trying a new genre and unique format. After The End is Clare Mackintosh like you've never seen her. If you're looking for a book to instigate great book club discussions, you've found it.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to G.P Putnam's Sons for my complimentary copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.